Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Olympic torch relay will go on its tour as scheduled in Sichuan despite Monday's 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Wenchuan County of the province, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) said Tuesday.

    "The quake won't affect the torch relay Sichuan leg since the quake-stricken area is not on the route of the torch relay," BOCOG media center director Li Zhanjun said at a press conference at St. Regis hotel Tuesday morning.

    "The Olympic torch relay plan has been jointly set by both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the BOCOG," said Li, adding the BOCOG has not received any instruction to stop the torch odyssey.

    Li's words were echoed by BOCOG deputy director of the communications department Shao Shiwei, who just returned to Beijing from Mt. Qomolangma.

    On the same day, several other BOCOG departments concerned have confirmed that the committee won't have any changes on the Sichuanleg, Shao told Xinhua.

    The relay in Sichuan province, Southwest China, plans to kick off on June 15 and to end on June 18, touring seven cities of Guang'an, Mianyang, Guanghan, Leshan, Zigong, Yibin and provincial capital Chengdu.